KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockton is pleased to announce that Travis Leonard has joined the firm as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), succeeding Troy Cook who has occupied the role since 2020. Cook will transition to the role of Corporate Development as an advisor to Ron Lockton, Chairman and CEO.
Leonard is a highly regarded and deeply qualified finance executive with experience working in global markets. He will begin serving as Lockton's CFO on July 8, 2024, and will work closely with Cook to execute a transition of duties and an in-depth onboarding process.
"We are excited Travis is joining Lockton's global leadership team," said Ron Lockton, Chairman and CEO. "He brings a wealth of financial experience, a global perspective and great energy to support the future growth of Lockton."
Leonard has worked across various industry segments and global markets, excelling in financial leadership roles and leading significant transformation projects. Most recently, Leonard was the CFO of Hostess Brands, until the sale to J.M. Smucker Co. in November 2023. Prior to that, Travis was the CFO of the medical segment at Cardinal Health and held financial leadership roles at Kraft Foods, including time in Brazil, and Cargill after beginning his career at Arthur Andersen as a finance and economic consultant.
Travis was raised in the Kansas City metropolitan area and went on to attend the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign where he earned his BS in Finance followed by earning his MBA at Northwestern University – Kellogg School of Management.
Cook will remain on the Lockton, Inc. board of directors and will move into the role of EVP of Corporate Development, reporting to Ron Lockton, Chairman and CEO. In this role, Troy will actively assist in the transition of duties and onboarding of Travis while partnering with leadership on global development opportunities and playing an advisory role to the CEO.
"I am grateful for Troy's commitment and leadership as CFO during a very important growth period for the company," said Lockton. "When Troy transitioned from the role of independent board member to CFO in 2020, it was planned to be a 5-year term. He has helped position Lockton for strong, sustained growth and will continue to have a positive impact on Lockton through this planned transition and leadership in corporate development."
Lockton, Inc. is excited to welcome Travis Leonard to the team and looks forward to the contributions he will make to the company's future growth and success.
About Lockton
What makes Lockton stand apart is also what makes us better: independence. Lockton's private ownership empowers its 11,700+ Associates doing business in over 140 countries to focus solely on clients' risk, insurance and people needs. With expertise that reaches around the globe, Lockton delivers the deep understanding needed to accomplish remarkable results. For more information, visit www.lockton.com
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Travis Leonard joins Lockton's Global Leadership Team as Chief Financial Officer
GUANGDONG, China, Sept. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Since the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Guangzhou in Guangdong Province has been a prominent port where Sino-foreign trade flourished, attracting numerous foreign merchants who traveled here along the Maritime Silk Road.
Following the founding of the People's Republic of China, Guangdong continued to serve as China's "trade window." To earn foreign exchange and meet the country's urgent demand for various imported materials necessary for large-scale economic construction, Guangdong capitalized on its geographical proximity to Hong Kong and Macao to host three export fairs from October 1955 to May 1956. In this context, officials from the former Ministry of Foreign Trade and the Guangdong Provincial Government considered hosting a national export fair in Guangzhou.
From April 25 to May 25, 1957, the first Canton Fair took place, covering an exhibition area of 9,600 square meters and showcasing 10,900 categories of goods. The event attracted 1,223 buyers from 19 countries and regions, achieving an export turnover of $17.54 million. Today, the Canton Fair stands as the longest-running and largest comprehensive international trade exhibition in China, often regarded as "China's No. 1 Exhibition." As of the first half of 2024, this grand event has successfully hosted 135 sessions, established trade relations with 229 countries and regions worldwide, achieved a cumulative export turnover of approximately $1.5 trillion, and attracted over 9.3 million overseas participants. The fair has significantly enhanced trade exchanges and fostered friendly ties between China and other countries and regions across the globe.
In 2015, the China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone was established in Shenzhen, Guangdong, making it one of the second batch of pilot free trade zones approved in China. Johannes Jozef Bults, a Dutch entrepreneur engaged in import and export in the Qianhai and Shekou Area of Shenzhen, an integral part of the pilot free trade zone, noted that since the establishment of the zone, he has witnessed a continuous optimization of the business environment. "The government's support, from company registration to everyday operations, has made it incredibly convenient for entrepreneurs to do business here," he remarked.
Gu Qingyang, an associate professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, expressed that China is currently at a critical stage of development. He anticipates that Guangdong will continue to embody the pioneering spirit of innovation and exploration, boldly venturing into avenues for high-quality development in China.
Since 2024, the term "new quality productive forces" has become a frequently discussed theme in economic plans across various sectors and regions in Guangdong. The province is dedicated to developing the manufacturing industry and prioritizing the real economy, aiming to build a modern industrial system with international competitiveness and accelerate the formation of "new quality productive forces." Additionally, Guangdong is committed to enhancing the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, focusing on strengthening major infrastructure connectivity, improving foreign trade cooperation, accelerating industrial investment, and promoting collaboration in marine sectors. The province is also working to continually improve its maritime, land, and air transportation while leading in institutional openness regarding rules, regulations, management, and standards within the Greater Bay Area.
The spirit of openness from the Maritime Silk Road continues to thrive. Today, Guangdong has become a microcosm of China's reform and opening-up, serving as a vital window for the world to understand and engage with China.
Contact: Mei Zhang
Tel.:0086-18611686759
E-mail: 1713543383@qq.com
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
From Maritime Silk Road Hub to "Trade Window": Guangdong's Continuous Push for Opening Up
